My Georgia 2.0

Georgia's Natural Beauty - Tallulah Gorge

2007-11-28T21:40:00.000-05:00

As winter approaches and the lukewarm fall days are passing, the weather is getting colder and the leaves are changing, finally. It was a perfect chance to make a trip upstate to Tallulah Falls, Ga. to see Tallulah Gorge.

Tallulah Gorge is big and beautiful! It's two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep and even has a suspension bridge that is fairly easy to walk to. It's one of the largest natural spectacles in the eastern United States and at one time was the biggest tourist attraction in the southeast.

Tallulah Gorge is a nature lovers paradise. There are eight trails you can hike as well as campsites and occasional guided midnight hikes. There are also a lot of birdhouses around the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center, the main information center, if your into bird watching. They even provide binoculars so you can get a better view.

The gorge, like Juliette, Ga., has had its share of movies filmed at the location. A few scenes from the 1972 hit movie "Deliverance," staring Burt Reynolds, were filmed in the gorge. This is the only movie ever to give my father nightmares. Here's a trailer from the film. I don't really know if the director was trying to be serious with this trailer because it's a little funny to me. The movie however is a little more serious.

Note: The views expressed in this film are not my own obviously since I have created this blog to show how awesome small-town Georgia is. North Georgia, in my experiences here, is full of great people just like you would find anywhere else. While deliverance may not be a family friendly movie if you have small children, Tallulah Gorge is definitely a great place for a family get away.

An Ode to Fresh Produce

2007-11-26T10:28:00.000-05:00

As I said before, I love eating. In my opinion (my brother would strongly disagree), nothing in the world compares to fresh homegrown tomatoes. In fact, I traveled to Romania this summer and one guy we stayed with couldn't remember my name so he just called me "Tomato" because I turned down all the meat they offered me and engorged myself instead with their delectable tomatoes. Frankly, they are what I resorted to when I got completely burnt out on European foods.

Much like a church is sacred to the pious or how Chuck E. Cheese's is heaven for some children, for fruit and vegetable lovers, these fruitstands serve as monuments to good eating. And, while they may not be as big or as fancy as that new Kroger or Publix, they certainly pack a punch among those looking for something superior.

These are another product of The Golden Highway which I mentioned in my previous post and can be found throughout the entire length of U.S. Highway 441 (in Georgia anyway, I'm not sure about other states.) On my way home to Dublin, Ga. from Athens, Ga. for Thanksgiving break, I counted six open stands. The one shown here is my favorite and is about 15 or 20 minutes south of Athens, Ga. It's not too big or too small and the people working there are always nice and were more than willing to let me take pictures of their goods. At other places I went to originally, the people working there were a little more hesitant about letting me take pictures.

The experience is totally unique! As you're driving down the road, you'll start seeing red and white hand-painted signs. They're on the side of the road or hung in the trees lining the ditch and proclaim the delicacies to come such as "Fresh Georgia Peaches" and "Boiled Peanuts." The signs usually begin about a half a mile down the road, and much like a treasure map, if you just follow the clues, you will be rewarded in the end.

Do Funky Deals

2007-11-25T15:23:00.000-05:00

How does a business stay open without ever buying advertising space? If you're located on "The Golden Highway" it's easy!

U.S. Highway 441 used to be called The Golden Highway. As it was once the best way to get between north and south Georgia, and arguably still is, many people began setting up businesses and stands to peddle their wares to the masses of traffic that travel the road daily.

This is exactly was Do Funky Deals owner Charley Brooks counted on when he set up shop. The truth is that he has in fact never spent a penny on advertising, yet the whole time I was at his store there was a steady flow of customers coming and going.

If you've passed through Bishop, Ga. you've probably seen this unique shop. It's hard to miss with huge dinosaurs made of stone and metal out near the road. It always caught my attention as I was driving, so I decided to stop and check it out Wednesday morning.

The owner is a nice man named Charley Brooks who interestingly enough is a Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications alumni. His little shop is full of interesting nick knacks where he sells everything from jewelery to lawn decorations with most of his pieces being handmade. Some of his major things, like the dinosaur in the picture above, are one of a kind pieces made by an artist and are more to just draw people in than to sell since he doesn't know when or if the artist will make another one.

Mr. Brooks said for many of the metal objects he goes to Haiti where they are made from old barrels that are hand cut and shaped. Some of them still have the original stamps and logos that were on the barrels while they were in use. He also sells beautiful stones and often travels hundreds of miles to pick them out.

If you like out of the ordinary decor or are just looking for something unique to give as a gift, I would definitely check this place out. Even if you're not looking to buy anything it's a pretty cool place to just stop and look around!

My Drive Home!

2007-11-25T14:43:00.000-05:00

Wednesday morning I set out to make the familiar trip from Athens, Ga. to Dublin, Ga. down U.S. Highway 441 to go home for Thanksgiving.

As I drove, I began thinking. I've done all these posts about places that I've never been to or don't go to very often. Why don't I give recognition to the places that I pass through on my way home?

Before Interstate 75 was built, 441 was the best way to get from northern to central and parts of southern Georgia. It is a long winding road that cuts through farmland and cityscape alike, stretching from Miami, Fla. all the way to Lake City, Tenn. Today, 441 is still a very busy road, but with newer roads being built, people have more options and often prefer to bypass all the small towns and cities along the way.

If you did choose to travel via 441, opting for the scenic route, you would pass through cities like Milledgeville, Ga. (hometown of Flannery O'Conner and Julia Robert's character in "Pretty Woman"), Madison, Ga. (antique lover's dream) and Eatonton ,Ga. You would also go through smaller towns or unincorporated communities like Farmington, Ga., Bishop, Ga., McIntyre, Ga., Irwinton, Ga., and Nicklesville, Ga.

These next two posts are not so much about the cities you'd pass through but more about a couple of my favorite sites along the way. If you've made this drive before, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about!

Fried Green Tomatoes are Delicious!

2007-11-18T14:50:00.000-05:00

The movie Fried Green Tomatoes was a hit back in the early 90s. In fact, I remember seeing it as a child when it came out. If you pay really close attention though, and look really hard (but not too hard because you'll hurt your eyes if you get that close to the television screen) you may recognize the place where it was filmed!

"Fried Green Tomatoes" was filmed right here in Georgia. In Juliette, Ga. to be exact! Here's a trailer from the movie. If you've never seen it, it's a great movie. It has parts that will make you laugh and parts that will certainly make you cry.

Once called Glover, Ga., the town was renamed after the daughter of the engineer who was building the railroad, Juliette McCrackin and is just north of Macon, Ga. I heard that many of the buildings that were seen in the movie, like the Whistle Stop Cafe, were moved in for the movie but either way, the town still looks the same today with a plethora of old buildings that reflect the character found in the town both in real life and in the movie.

"Fried Green Tomatoes" is not the only movie that was filmed in Juliette. Other films that call this small Georgia town home are "A Killing Affair," "Return to Macon County," "Born to Kill" and "Tuskegee Airmen."

p.s. Mary-Louise Parker is awesome!

The Agrirama - A Walk Through History

2007-11-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

First of all, my apologies for the long time between posts. School got a little hectic last week!

Anyway, last weekend I went down to Tifton, Ga. to the Agrirama. Actually, I went to Tifton to see my grandparents who live there, you know the ones I said remind me of Laurel and Hardy in a previous post, and the Agrirama seemed like a good addition for the blog!

The Agrirama is a tribute to the past when people still worked on farms, the printing press and steam engine were the latest technology and a blacksmith was a regular fixture in every town. This is where the past and present collide to create a truly unique experience.

The Agrirama opened on July 4, 1976 in Tifton, Ga. Thirty-five structures were moved to the 95 acre plot of land and painstakingly preserved. Today if you visit, live instructors in costume, give a little history and show what life was like in the late 1800s.

Some of the structures there are a doctor's office, a mill that is run by a small stream flowing outside and a train station with a working steam engine that makes an hourly trip around the periphery of the village.

My favorite place we visited was the saw mill. All the wood is cut by hand and used for repairs around the village. Making every attempt at authenticity, the newest thing at the saw mill was a large saw (the biggest I've ever seen - not that I'm some kind of expert on saws or anything) which was replaced back in 1905! The sawyer was a very nice man named Billy Hayes. He is retired but works at the Agrirama saying that "it is a great place to work after you retire. You meet all kinds of people coming through here." He said it was a more desirable option than seeking employment at Wal-Mart as a greeter.

The Agrirama even has it's own printing company with of course very old printing presses. There they print a newspaper called The Georgia Recorder which features real stories from that time period. They also print their own Christmas cards that they sell at a reasonable price (keep your eyes peeled everyone who usually gets Christmas cards from my mom)!

This is just a picture of my brother (sorry ladies he's taken) and me at the cotton mill in front of some bales of cotton.

Whether you're interested in this time period or you just don't have anything to do on a Saturday this is a pretty cool place to go. It's interesting to see how they lived their lives and compare it to how we live ours. I'm not saying that either one is necessarily harder because I think both kinds of lifestyles are hard in completely different ways. Anyway, it's a great place to take the kids if you have any, so check it out!

Rose Hill Cemetery

2007-11-02T01:30:00.000-04:00

Since Halloween was just a couple of days ago, I thought it appropriate to make a post about Rose Hill Cemetery.

Rose Hill Cemetery is located in Macon, Ga. on 65 acres of terraced, green land nestled alongside the banks of the Ocmulgee River. Founded in 1840, it is one of the oldest surviving public cemeteries in the country and is the largest of the 33 cemeteries found in Macon.

Rose Hill is the final resting place of some pretty interesting folks. There are three Georgia governors, 31 mayors, over a thousand confederate soldiers and several senators and congressmen buried there.

There are also quite a few entertainers there, the most notable (in my opinion) being two members of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, who are buried side by side. Apparently, the cemetery was a hangout for the band during their early years and many of the songs share their names with some of the people buried there.

Recently (in the past decade) the cemetery has had a huge problem with vandalism. Many of the tombstones have been claimed as the canvases of graffiti artists and some smaller more ornate monuments have even been stolen. I guess grave robbing has been around forever so I don't know why it should surprise me so much to find out that it still actually happens, but honestly I am disgusted at people's disregard and lack of respect for the deceased. Sorry to get off on a tangent but I find this to be infuriating to say the least.

Oktoberfest Bound!

2007-10-30T21:41:00.000-04:00

Last weekend after attending the UGA Connect Social Media Conference, I went to beautiful Helen, Ga. to take part in their annual Oktoberfest celebration!

Helen lies on the banks of the Chattahoochee River settled in the north Georgia mountains just south of Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald.

This alpine inspired town is charming to say the least. The architecturally Germanesque downtown has the best candy stores and fudge shops! You will also find tons of nick-knack stores where orchestras of windchimes made of everything from stones to metal to wood can be heard.

While Helen is a great spot to visit any time of the year, going during Oktoberfest is a totally different experience than visiting during other seasons. This typically sleepy town is never empty by any means, but during Oktoberfest it really comes alive. People come from all over to celebrate. While I was there, I saw license plates from Kentucky, Georgia (of course), North and South Carolina and Florida.

Oktoberfest began in Helen in the 70s and was just a small festival, but now it's an affair lasting from mid-September through October.

The sidewalks were bustling with live entertainment. Here is a street performer who attempted stunts like jumping rope while riding a unicycle and juggling fire. There was also a lot of musical talent with some musicians playing traditional folk tunes and others playing original pieces.

I know you're expecting this, and yes, Oktoberfest has lots of sausage and beer. This made for an interesting crowd dynamic of families with young children to other people who were beer enthusiasts to say the least.

Oktoberfest (or maybe just Helen in general) must be a stop on motorcyclist's roadmaps because there were motorcycles everywhere! The parking lot in the picture to the left was literally full with motorcycles alone.

Even the Huddle House I ate at was German inspired!

The Georgia National Fair

2007-10-22T23:26:00.001-04:00

Where can you find arts and crafts, muscle men, cows, llamas, camels, funnel cakes and ferris wheels all in the same place? The Georgia National Fair, that's where!

This past weekend I went to the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Ga. It was a blast! This fair comes every October and stays for about two weeks. There's always tons to do here and there's certainly never a dull moment.

I was fortunate enough to meet up with my parents while I was there. They are annual fair-goers without fail. This is my my mom and me having a great time on a ride!

One event that was a first for me was Robinson's Racing Pigs. While it may not exactly be considered kosher to animal rights activists, it was still pretty funny. The pigs even had comical names like "Hammy Faye Bacon" and "Brittney Sparerib." I've never seen a pig up close and have certainly never seen one run so fast or swim for that matter. Check out the video I took. If you've never experienced anything like it, you can think of it as kind of like a dog race except with pigs and instead of chasing a motorized rabbit around the track, the pigs race for Oreo Cookies. Don't worry the loser still gets a few Oreo crumbs.

Without fail, there is always something at the fair that will ensure a good laugh or at least an awkward/creepy moment. This year was not a disappointment.

It would have been the ferris wheel operator screaming at the crowd about his track record of not having killed anybody thus far, but there was something a bit more disturbing than even that. It was a remote control, tricycle-riding, robot monkey. It even had speakers attached and a moving mouth. Someone hiding nearby in the crowd was the operator and had a microphone so they could see you and talk to you through the monkey. Talk about living vicariously through someone else. As we tried to get pictures of it, I guess it felt its personal space was being invaded because it started in on us, asking questions, making accusations and overall being totally creepy!

For many, fairs are not just about livestock or even rides and games. There seems to be a cult following for the food only found at the fair. Whether you have a major sweet tooth and love things like funnel cakes and deep fried candy bars or if you prefer sausages and blooming onions, it was definitely not in short supply at the fair. I'm not such a big fan of "fair food" but nothing else reminds me more of the fair than the smells created by these delicacies.

From llama beauty pageants to freak shows to quilting exhibitions, there was never a short supply of things to do. The Georgia National Fair literally has something for everyone. The night even ended with a laser show and fireworks, which is always a plus in my opinion. Having gotten my fix for another year I headed back to Athens satisfied and happy.

A Tip for the Fellas: Le Maison Bleu.

2007-10-16T21:52:00.000-04:00

Want fine French food without hopping a plane to France? Check out Le Maison Bleu, winner of the "Best Food" award in the Taste of Athens, in Watkinsville, Ga.

Watkinsville is just a short ride from Athens, Ga. and is well worth the trip.

I went last Sunday for their first ever brunch. If you've read "Kitchen Confidential," by Anthony Bourdain, you're probably thinking "Brunch! That's just a bunch of recycled leftovers from the night before! What is she thinking?" Don't get me wrong I was a little concerned about that myself. My fears were immediately dispelled as I took my first bite though. Leftovers or not, I couldn't tell it if they were, this food was amazing and nothing short of breakfast perfection! A ribeye with eggs and potatoes?! Now that's a meal I could definitely get used to.

The price was easy on the pocket too. The portion was enough food for two good-sized meals and it was only about $12. That just goes to show that good food doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

Service there was great. We were seated immediately, our cups were never empty and we were personally asked our opinions by the chef at the end of the meal. How often is it that you go into a restaurant and you feel like the chef actually cares about what you thought of the food? I was impressed to say the least.

The atmosphere in the restaurant was great. There were a lot of rooms all of which were beautifully decorated with chandeliers everywhere. They also played pretty good music! This restaurant is chic but not presumptuous.

Great food, great atmosphere and great service what more could you ask for? Enjoy the slideshow and don't forget to check out Maison Bleu's Web site for their phone number, hours and menus.

Some Technical Difficulties...

2007-10-14T17:45:00.000-04:00

It seems that some of my pictures and videos are not showing up sometimes. I think this may be a regular problem that other people using Blogger are experiencing too, so bear with me.

If a picture or video doesn't show up when you're here just use your imagination...the possibilities could be endless! In the meantime I'll probably be reposting the blog with the pictures and/or videos re-inserted.

Thanks for your patience.

The Oliver Hardy Festival - "Another Fine Mess You've Gotten Me Into!"

2007-10-10T22:05:00.000-04:00

After getting lost on the way and stopping to get directions 15 miles after I missed my turn, I finally ended up in Harlem, Ga. for the Oliver Hardy Festival!

For those of you who don't know who Oliver Hardy is (shame on you), here is a short video and a very brief history. If the video didn't show up hit refresh and it should work. There seems to be a problem with that sometimes on this site.

Oliver Hardy was born in Harlem, Ga. on January 18, 1892. He is the more rotund of the two men in the video. At an early age he expressed an interest in music and theater. After a few years of making movies, he was accidentally paired with an Englishman by the name of Stan Laurel, forming one of the greatest comedy acts in television history known as Laurel and Hardy.

The Oliver Hardy festival is in its 19th year in Harlem and is always celebrated on the first Saturday in October. This small town's population explodes on this day with people coming from all over to visit the festival. Last year, there were around 32,000 people who came to the festival. While I was there I even met one guy who regularly travels to attend Laurel and Hardy conventions.

Events at the festival include a parade, skits, a look-alike contest, musical groups, dancers, arts and crafts booths and of course screenings of old shorts and movies. They even have an entire museum dedicated to the duo.

As a child many of my Saturdays, after early morning cartoons naturally, were spent watching old Laurel and Hardy films my favorite being "Flying Deuces" from which the previous clip was taken. Strangely enough, Laurel and Hardy somewhat remind me of my grandparents and their relationship. Not only does my grandfather look a little like Laurel but he is always taking very strict instruction from my grandmother, the ringleader of their operation.

This is me with the Laurel and Hardy look-alikes at the museum. These guys were very nice and travel from town to town posing as Laurel and Hardy.

Are you a Laurel and Hardy fan? If so, whats your favorite film or short? Check out the official Web site!

Elmer and Mary - Royalty of Roadside Dining

2007-10-06T01:01:00.000-04:00

I like eating. No, I love eating! I would probably call it my favorite pastime, and some of my favorite places to dine are to say the least "hole in the wall" kind of joints. The Elanma is no exception.

The Elanma is located in East Dublin, Ga. and the restaurant's name comes from a combination of the names Elmer and Mary who were the original owners and founders of the restaurant. The Elanma has since been passed down through the family but continues to serve the same superb cuisine as the day it opened.

This is not just a restaurant though, it has great sentimental value to me. My grandparents took my brother and me there on a regular basis as kids, and he has just as much an attachment to the place I do.

Every time I go home my brother and I never fail to go back and visit. Our favorite menu item is the Sho-Nuff cheeseburger which the Elanma is locally famous for. For those of you who don't speak "southern" let me break "Sho-Nuff" down for you. It comes from the words "sure enough." They weren't kidding when they named these burgers because they are pretty big. It's certainly more than I could stomach in one meal.

I know it's not much to look at, but don't judge a book by its cover. This place is awesome and is seriously one of my favorite eateries in the world!

The Mysterious Georgia Guidestones

2007-10-02T21:13:00.001-04:00

One muggy day in June, 1979, a well dressed man walked into Elberton Granite Finishing Company and changed the landscape of Elberton, Ga., granite capital of the world, forever.

The Georgia Guidestones, also known as the American Stonehenge, were commissioned by R.C. Christian (this name is actually a pseudonym - his real name still remains a mystery). After he had the guidestones made he disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again.

The Guidestones stand 19 feet tall and weigh 237,746 pounds. Accompanying the stones is a granite slab with a time capsule buried underneath with no date specified for its opening.

Engraved on the monument are 10 guidelines that our society should live by in order to preserve balance within the world and nature. They are written in eight different languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Hebrew and Swahili and are as follows:
1. Maintain humanity under 500,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2. Guide reproduction wisely - improving fitness and diversity.
3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
4. Rule passion - faith - tradition - and all things with tempered reason.
5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
9. Prize truth - beauty - love - seeking harmony with the infinite.
10. Be not a cancer on the earth - Leave room for nature - Leave room for nature.

Obviously we have already cast aside many of the values prescribed for us.

Today the Georgia Guidestones are sponsored by a small group of Americans who seek the age of reason. It goes without saying, these stone attract all types of people including UFO buffs and spiritualists (and me too)!

The Redneck Games - Woo Hoo!

2007-09-27T22:08:00.000-04:00

Dublin, Ga. is a small town located in central Georgia and is my hometown. It is in Laurens county and while it is one of the largest counties in the state, it only has a total population of around 40,000. Because of its location, halfway between Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., it is a major industrial hub for Georgia.

Dublin's (actually East Dublin, Ga.'s) claim to fame is the Redneck Games that takes place every July. This event has received coverage from MTV, CMT and many international sources. It began as a tribute to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and is currently in its tenth year.

Let me be the first to tell you that this is a huge deal in people's summer agenda. Participants train and prepare year round for events like the mudpit belly flop, armpit serenade and the redneck horseshoes, played using old toilet seats instead of horseshoes of course. This is serious! Check out these guys, they're hardcore!

Nothing Against the ATL!

2007-09-19T20:14:00.000-04:00

My name is Alicin Hendricks and welcome to my blog. I am a University of Georgia student and feel I see things a little differently than most people around here.

I've heard that around 80 percent of UGA students are Atlanta natives and while that may not be the exact percent, I know it's high. I am not from Atlanta. In fact, I'm not even from a large town. I'm from rural Georgia (Dublin, Ga. to be exact! Good luck finding that on a map). It is surrounded by trees and farmland. There is not a skyscraper in a 135 mile radius and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who commutes more than 10 minutes to their job or to school in the morning. And while it may sound like a boring place to grow up or even visit, there is a unique culture there. A culture that you won't find anywhere else.

This is the point of my blog. When I came to UGA I felt alienated as I know other small town kids did too when they came here. It's hard to fit in when everyone around you grew up in the same city and has had the same experiences. In this blog I want to capture "My Georgia." When most people think about Georgia, they think Atlanta. But there is so much more in this state to be appreciated! There is a small-town culture that I feel is a dying breed. Throughout this semester I plan to blog about this culture and the events that happen in these smaller communities that make them unique to give you a glimpse of how our great state looks through small-town eyes.